What should I do, career-wise?

[hamradio]

Lately, my parents have been asking me a lot what I'm planning on going to school for, what I'm planning on doing with my life. And other people have, too. I know, I still have a year or two to figure it out. The problem is, when I sit and think about it, I don't have a damn idea. Nothing really interests me. I *love* working on cars, but would never do it for a job...I would hate working on POS '90s domestic rattleboxes and minivans all day, plus, I don't know if I'd actually work on something besides me own stuff. I suck at math, and love computers, but don't know if I'd have the patience to sit in front of one all day, every day. Any ideas? At least something that sounds alright that I can tell my parents and relatives, so they stop asking?

Thanks.

[VeeDubMe]

become a nurse... good pay and easy once you are done with school. not to mention a ton of hotties for co-workers..

[hamradio]

I've thought about something medical...I'm currently a ski patroller. I dunno if I could deal with the people and some things; I fear I'm too sensitive to that kind of stuff, maybe it's different to know what's wrong with someone, versus discover things as you go, with ski patrol. A little weird to feel broken bones in someone else, IMO.

[VeeDubMe]

you become "desensitized"... to it after a while... its not as bad as tv makes it look.... Sure you can be put in a high stress environment like the ER and ICU.... but otherwise its a walk in the park... to me anyways... (still in school for it...) working as a CNA at a nursing home, you get use to people dieing...

I know this may not sound great to you but... the medical field is only gonna grow and you can change professions easily and usually your employer will pay for further education...

[shanetrain]

still have a year or two to figure it out? thats bull. in my opinion, thats just what society wants you to believe. i hate that. at 18 years old, in my opinion your still a kid. not everyone knows exactly what they want to do for a career for years to come. most people change their majors and career paths numerous times in college... just start figuring out what you dont like and go from there...

[hamradio]

Ok,
I don't like-
Picking up poo after a dog
Cleaning up garbage after other people
Installing underground sprinklers
Dealing with stupid people
Buicks

You do have a decent idea there, think of all the things I hate, and go from there. :beer:

[Hart]

Should become a bum like me

[turbolesstom]

If you don't like dealing with stupid people you should just kill yourself because whatever you do in life you will have to deal with them. Period. But.. thats not such a terrible option. Nothing to worry about then..

[Casper]

uh...can't really top that one...:eek:

[hamradio]

I'm going to pretend that post doesn't exist. :sadpanda:

[Digital K]

If you don't like dealing with stupid people you should just kill yourself because whatever you do in life you will have to deal with them. Period. But.. thats not such a terrible option. Nothing to worry about then..

:thumbdown:

[silver saloon]

learn a trade. thats honestly your best bet.. you'll always have a job, get good money, learn tons of cool stuff, etc.

[Crispy222]

If you wanna push yourself and you get decent grade, try the U of MN out. Start with Mechanical Engineering. I think you'll like it if you can get through the calculus. If that doesn't work out or you don't think you wanna get a 4 year degree, goto Dunwoody. They got tons of interesting programs. If you wanna check either out and don't wanna have to deal with some BS admin guy, I'd be happy to walk you around either campus, as I attended both school. Either way, moving away from home is great learning experience in its self.

[The_Stig]

Didn't read the responses so don't kill me:wedgie:

Your going to be a senior and your parents are already asking what you want to go to school for? If you do a traditional 4 year school, you don't have to declare a major until junior year. Theres too much pressure these days about figuring out what your major will be before they even are in college.

My advice is that if you are 1000% certain what you want to do as a career then go to school with that in mind. But if your not sure, just do your generals at a community college and save the money for when you enroll at a university to focus on your major. I went to Normandale and I think it's a good idea to go that way and save some money. Don't rule out vocational schools, either.

I went to and graduated from Edina, so you can imagine that everybody was splooging over what schools they were going to and what they were majoring in. Towards the end of senior year, I was tired of hearing people saying "Oh what college are you going to? I'm going to _____ and I'm majoring in _____. I hear Greek life is big at _____ so I'm gonna rush _____ and _____ because I hear their parties are awesome."

Same old shit.

Sorry for the tangent, but my suggestion to you Ham is to just wait and take it slow. Enjoy the time you have left as a high school student because you will be on the graduation podium in no time at all.

[Dan A]

still have a year or two to figure it out? thats bull. in my opinion, thats just what society wants you to believe. i hate that. at 18 years old, in my opinion your still a kid. not everyone knows exactly what they want to do for a career for years to come. most people change their majors and career paths numerous times in college... just start figuring out what you dont like and go from there...

+1.

I have a degree in Political Science. Not at all related to what I'm doing now. 1st couple of years in college is just basic courses anyways so you pretty much don't even need to decide on a major till you've taken a bunch of different courses and hooked in to something you like. I really don't think anyone can expect you to decide on a lifelong career right now. Some people might have some big passion they want to pursue, vast majority need a little time to figure it out.

[Die Frau]

I will be 30 in a month.... still have no clue what I want to do.

Really, find something that pays well and you do not hate. I have friends and family to satisfy the other needs I have. I don't really expect much out of my job/career - just a means to get me the things I want out of work.

[EWAustin]

Picked Auto Body because I knew nothing about it. Now that has changed. I know that I don't want to do autobody for the rest of my life (body guys don't live long) but for now it's fun, pays well, and it'll be a good skill to have later on down the road when I'm old and actually have money to throw at my toys :D

[Topher]

I went to school for four years and graduated with a degree in advertising and anthropology.

Then I got a job and moved here.

Then I started grad school and got an M.A. in Strategic Communications in addition to my job.






I still don't know what I want to do when I "grow up"

[Eveille]

I'm 20 and in the same position as you.. Don't know what to do. What hurt me was the fact that I didn't care much about my grades in HS and did enough to get by. Everyone says do good in school but I didn't care.. But seriously, do good in school. My choices for college are more limited now, not cause I'm dumb I just didn't care. Like someone said, nursing seems good. 4 years and your set with great money if you can handle blood and the like. I can't.. And I don't wanna clean peoples bedpans either. I've been looking into massage therapy, but then my dad put it in perspective "you don't always get to work with beautiful people". Yeah ok gross. My ex is a millwright making $60k a year, he just turned 20. Not a bad start it only goes up from there. Union jobs seem decent from what I hear. Just don't worry about making your parents happy... make a choice that makes YOU happy. Your the one who has to get up and go to work everyday try not to hate it.

[turbolesstom]

A trade is always a good option.. I went to school for one year and make good money now. I have good pensions and will retire with enough to live off of. Just make sure you work union and dont be a scab.

[audivwdave]

What trade are you in now? My friend was just saying to do a trade cuz he is making in one week as much as I do in one month. The nurse thing is a good idea too,people will always be sick and chicks will always be hot in those scrubs. The mechanic at my former work said his mechanic buddy is doing that now and he loves it,pay ,babes etc.

[Kinderliving]

ha I'm with Die, I'm 25 just graduated w/a BA from UMD in GEOGRAPHY of all things...after switching majors 3 times throughout academia...and now I'm getting the same question you are...so now what, what do you want to do? and I'm as clueless as you...my advice would be...get to where you want to live and figure out what you want to do from there...you said you ski patrol...so move to the mountains (pref. w/a VW scene :) )and become a patrol out there...do what makes you happy man! bottom line :)

[TTaM]

I'm 25 and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

Here's my story thus far, maybe it will help you.

I got a 4 year degree from a prestigious private school, graduated with a Bachelors in Political Science and 2 minors, Economics and Russian Language. I had every intention of going to law school, until I talked to some lawyers. Yes, they all admitted the money is great, but your quality of life sucks until you make partner. I had no interest living at work until I was 40.

So I went into Finance. I underwrote loans for GE Commercial Finance. It was an ok gig, but it was pretty boring. Then a friend told me her dad's company was hiring for an insurance appraiser. I interviewed with them, and haven't looked back since.

I work with cars everyday, but I stay relatively clean. The perks are great (work from home, company car, paid phone, internet, cell, etc), plus you get to see some really interesting things. It pays well too. Granted, I do write the occasional Buick, but getting to write an Aston Martin or Lambo make up for it.

This is a job I literally did not know existed or paid as well as it does until it fell into my lap. I went through a training program my company has that takes college grads with no auto body experience, just a general interest in cars, and trains them everything they need to know. The intention is that you do it for a few years, then move up with the company.

Hope this helps.

[turbolesstom]

What trade are you in now? My friend was just saying to do a trade cuz he is making in one week as much as I do in one month. The nurse thing is a good idea too,people will always be sick and chicks will always be hot in those scrubs. The mechanic at my former work said his mechanic buddy is doing that now and he loves it,pay ,babes etc.

if you are referring to me, I am a Union Sheet Metal Worker with Local #10. If your really interested in how much I make you can look it up on the website. im number 2 on the apprentice scale. its hard work, but good pay.

[Crispy222]

Just make sure you work union and dont be a scab.

Yes, Unions do alot for their employees, but they are killing our economy and the good worker. I'll never work in an union environment. Everyone gets the same pay, doesn't matter if you hold down the table all day or work so hard you sweat out your shirt.

[SLK]

Yes, Unions do alot for their employees, but they are killing our economy and the good worker. I'll never work in an union environment. Everyone gets the same pay, doesn't matter if you hold down the table all day or work so hard you sweat out your shirt.
unions also give you alot of benefits too. and yeah hard workers will get the shaft.

[paulzeee]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516NSSBJRDL._SL500_BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpgcheck it out

[turbolesstom]

Yes, Unions do alot for their employees, but they are killing our economy and the good worker. I'll never work in an union environment. Everyone gets the same pay, doesn't matter if you hold down the table all day or work so hard you sweat out your shirt.

while I agree with some of what your saying, being a union worker gives you a chance to have a good retirement. the construction industry is a hard one to survive without being union. and if you are a hard worker, people know it. if you suck, people know that too and you wont hold a job. same pay, yes, but hours you work are much different. but on the other hand, there is alot of political bullshit that comes with unions.

[SLK]

sorry to thread jack but how does someone go about learning a trade?

[boardrider247]

First off Hammy you never got back to me about those rocco seats:humper:

Second, I suggest fucking off as much as possible for as long as possible. You can always start a carreer and get a real job. But it's pretty hard to go ski bumming after you start to make real money and get used to it.

And as far as trades and unions go. Right now there is a huge shortage of welders nationwide. Mostly construction trades welders.

And yes everyone makes the same within a union. But in general you will make more and be treated more fairly then working non union. Union trades set the pay scale for the rest of the industry.

[boardrider247]

And if your parents don't approve of the ski bum thing. Look into colorado mountain college. Thier slogan is "see me ski"

[silver saloon]

sorry to thread jack but how does someone go about learning a trade?

go to a school like dunwoody. thats what im doing :thumbup:

[VeeDubMe]

Become a union plumber, they make good coin especially if you work for a hospital......

Or a firefighter.... I still kick myself for not going that route..

[shanetrain]

if you want a good trade, become a sprinkler fitter, they only take guys in every two years i think? you have to pass a test and then complete a verbal interview and the top say 50 guys get taken in... my dad did this after like 10 years as an auto mechanic, after about 5-7 years if you work hard and you are good at what you do, you can be making 70-80 a year, if you are able to move up to bidding jobs and supervising the employees you can see 90-110K a year. i thought real hard about doing that, but back breaking labor for the next 10 years doesnt sound appealing to me, but on the other hand if i would have gotten in 4 years ago, i could be making at least 50-60k a year right now :(

one last thing to consider is the economy. the construction industry is not doing so hot right now, so job placement is down. still possible to get a steady job, but getting laid off could be possible too. my suggestion, is to get involved with computers. IMHO we will need those for years to come and that industry is doing nothing but expand; i.e. the company i work for has doubled in total sales in the last 3-4 years.

[Russo]

I'm currently in school to be a paralegal. It's not very exciting but the work isn't terrible and it'll pay the bills. I'm only 20, I have a while to figure out what I really want to do with my life. If you don't want to do all of the attorney's work and get none of the credit but still want a decent job, you could try being a legal administrative assistant. The pay isn't quite as good but the work isn't as tough either (I've been told that you can play Solitaire most of the day).

[VeeDubMe]

I'm currently in school to be a paralegal. It's not very exciting but the work isn't terrible and it'll pay the bills. I'm only 20, I have a while to figure out what I really want to do with my life. If you don't want to do all of the attorney's work and get none of the credit but still want a decent job, you could try being a legal administrative assistant. The pay isn't quite as good but the work isn't as tough either (I've been told that you can play Solitaire most of the day).

that would drive me crazy..... playing solitaire for most of the day... I have to be constantly moving...

[Russo]

that would drive me crazy..... playing solitaire for most of the day... I have to be constantly moving...

It's boring but the pay is pretty good. Plus, there's room to move up if the attorneys like you enough. Some firms and businesses with large legal departments will pay for your degree and put you through law school.

[toasted]

I was fortunate when it came to this subject.

The first day of draftin class in my freshman year of high school I fell in love with it. I have always been artistic, I like drawing. I sat down in drafting class and we started drawing an a technical manner and I was hooked.

I knew then and there in 9th grade thats what I wanted to do with my life. So I took drafting all four years of high school, got a college degree in it, and I am now in the field with 8 years experience.

Not only did I get to do drafting, I have now advanced to a Project Management roll.



So my advice to you is find something you enjoy doing that is not a hobby of yours and look into where that interest can take you in a career.

Since you love cars so much, you do NOT want to work on them for a living. You will slave away on other peoples cars and enver want to work on your own. I tried being a mechanic while I was in college and thats exactly what happened to me. I wrenched on air-cooled VW's all day and I never opened the hood of my own Bug.

[toasted]

Oh, I just thought of something.

Learn a trade.

If you learn to be a plumber, electrician, drywaller, carpenter, or HVAC, you can do well in a career.

I have several friends that went that route and they are all very sucessful. They all work for a company in their trade full-time and then they do jobs on the side for extra income.

Ask Brent (Helmut) on here, he is an electrician and might be able to give you some insight.

[CaRJoE0220]

My dad was a sprinkler fitter for 35 years. Pay is damn good right now.

You just will have to work hard.

I believe everyone is meant for a certain field.

[murph]

if you can go to college, just go. If you don't know what you want to do, get yourself a degree in business, finance, or marketing. Any of those will allow you to fall into 1,000 different general office jobs that pay decently out of college. From there you'll just fall into something, or you'll find something really interesting and get into it.

I have a degree in communications, and I do IT management stuff from within a marketing department.

Corporate life may be lame, (it is) but most jobs are lame, and it means money and vacation time and internet time for lots of stuff that's not lame. (racing, traveling, working on cars, etc)

I think you have the right idea to stay away from turning a hobby into a career. I used to spend all my time and money tinkering with computers, and now the last thing I want to do when I get home is look at one. When it's time to play video games, I fire up the xbox 360 in the living room, and the computer in the office sits idle.

[CaRJoE0220]

if you can go to college, just go. If you don't know what you want to do, get yourself a degree in business, finance, or marketing. Any of those will allow you to fall into 1,000 different general office jobs that pay decently out of college. From there you'll just fall into something, or you'll find something really interesting and get into it.

Worst idea EVER!!!!

You will come out and make a choice. Fall into a job and hate yourself for the rest of your life. Or go a different route and cut your losses, which will be massive.

I spoke with a "life coach" I once met and it was interesting (and free) what she told me. Life is about phases. Dont leave the phase you are currently in until you are finished with what you wanna do.

as in,

Dont go to college untill you are ready to take the big step.

Dont get married until you are done with dating and being with girls.

Dont have kids until you are ready to give up most free time and going out with friends to the bars.

Dont retire until you are done working for good and are ready to take it easy.

[hamradio]

if you want a good trade, become a sprinkler fitter, they only take guys in every two years i think? you have to pass a test and then complete a verbal interview and the top say 50 guys get taken in... my dad did this after like 10 years as an auto mechanic, after about 5-7 years if you work hard and you are good at what you do, you can be making 70-80 a year, if you are able to move up to bidding jobs and supervising the employees you can see 90-110K a year. i thought real hard about doing that, but back breaking labor for the next 10 years doesnt sound appealing to me, but on the other hand if i would have gotten in 4 years ago, i could be making at least 50-60k a year right now :( .

You're talking about fire sprinklers, aren't you? I do underground sprinklers right now, my dad owns a company...it sucks, is hard and dirty work, and my pay is usually influenced by how much profit there is in the job. (which on some, is not much, as the bids are getting very competitive) I guess I could take over the company in a few years, but there is no way I would ever want to do that for a career..

As for drafting, I cannot stand it. Too boring for me. :) I took a few drafting classes, I couldn't stand them.

Another problem for me, I dunno if I mentioned it, but I suck at math. I've taken up to algebra II, and do not intend to take more, I almost failed algebra II. (the only math class I ever did half decent in was geometry) I'll probably graduate with a 3.0 out of 4. The only incentive I really have right now to try in school is cheap insurance with a 3.0, that's what I have right now.

[CaRJoE0220]

yea he is.

My dad worked on the Metrodome, Helped build the Excel, Worked in the airport.

Good money, hard labor

[zurno]

Ok,
Dealing with stupid people


you have no options

[BimmerTim]

Toasted, I think you just stole my story.

I did almost the exact same thing. I took a drafting class freshman year and fell in love. I tried to do body work for a while after high school, but ended up in school for drafting and design. Now, here I am, sitting at a desk designing stuff. Mostly agricultural equipment. I did a few projects on some military machinery. That was neat.

But, as far as it goes for you Ham. Just narrow it down by what you do and do not like to do. There are a ton of things out there. A few of my friends make cheese in Wisconsin, a few more design and test video games in Chi-town, and a bunch of my friends work at stealerships. It will come to you. Be patient young grasshopper. You have plenty of time to figure it out. Don't let the pressure get to you. Just have fun doing whatever you do, that's the most important thing.:rock:

[CaRJoE0220]

I took a drafting class my freshman year in high school to. I got some enjoyment out of it and it was a neat concept. But overall the class sucked and you couldnt do anything your own way. So they made me hate it

[hamradio]

exactly why I dislike drafting. Can't do anything your own way. When I sit down and sketch something out, I just break out some scratch paper and a pencil, instead of sitting with a straightedge, carefully drawing things, going about it in an orderly fashion.

[BimmerTim]

My experience with the school drafting was the same. It was their way or no way, but I still enjoyed it. Now I get to do everything my way.

[Eveille]

Around this time in your high school career they'll start having councilers [sp?] in, you'll take tests and interest related surveys and stuff to help you find a direction. They should help you out with choosing classes that will benefit a possible career choice and give you helpful prerequisites for college and stuff. Atleast my school did/offered a lot of that kind of thing. They're usually pretty helpful if you even have a slight interest, they can better determine what you might like to consider for a career.

[SAAB9-3USA]

Find a decent Job and see if you like it.
DID i think i was going to like building Grocery store pallets for a living in -30 degs.
no Buts its a job people always need food and i like the people i work with. Is it for everyone no. But find a job if you like do it if you don't find a different one

[thull]

finance is a great field, not only because of the money in the profession but even if you choose a different path you will still have the tools to make the most out of your income.

[hamradio]

Around this time in your high school career they'll start having councilers [sp?] in, you'll take tests and interest related surveys and stuff to help you find a direction. They should help you out with choosing classes that will benefit a possible career choice and give you helpful prerequisites for college and stuff. Atleast my school did/offered a lot of that kind of thing. They're usually pretty helpful if you even have a slight interest, they can better determine what you might like to consider for a career.

Actually, we did all that stuff 2 years ago. It was a class, "Career Countdown." What a great idea to go through that with people who still have a few years of high school left. :rolleyes:

[Speed4]

I just wanted to add...I think it's good that you're thinking about stuff like this now. I wish I had the foresight to actually think about what I wanted to do when I was in HS.